The Lord’s Message:  Journey to the Cross:  Jesus Shows Compassion from the Cross

The Lord’s Message:  Journey to the Cross:  Jesus Shows Compassion from the Cross
Date:  March 29, 2026
Where:  Tilghman Methodist Church
Scripture Reference:  Luke 23:32-43

            What would be the one trait in the life of Jesus that you would like to apply to your life?  For me that would be compassion.  I would like to be known as a person that cares for others.  This trait in Jesus’ life stands out in all four of the Gospels.

            Jesus’ compassion is revealed early in His ministry.  In Matthew 9:35-36, Jesus is looking at the people coming to Him for help, and He says that they are like “sheep without a shepherd.” Another example is found in John 4:1-42.   Jesus asks a Samaritan woman to give Him a drink a water, which turns into a discussion far above water, but becomes a declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  In verses 25-26, here is the declaration.   In Luke 8:40-56,Jesus shows compassion to a woman that has been bleeding for twelve years.  She is healed by simply reaching out and touching the hem of His robe.  She thinks that Jesus is going to be angry with her, an unclean woman, touching the robe of a rabbi.  But in verse 48, Jesus says to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace.” Continuing on in Luke 8, Jesus brings a synagogue leader’s (Jarius) daughter back from the dead.  Before they get to her, they learned that Jarius’ daughter has just died.  Jesus says to him, in verse 50, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”  What is your favorite story of Jesus showing compassion? 

            We left last week with Jesus being nailed to the cross.  Would Jesus continue to show compassion from the cross?

            Let us pray.

            At the cross, there was three incidents of Jesus showing His compassion.  First, Jesus has compassion for His mother, Mary.  This is recorded in John 19:25-27.  Jesus is the oldest son in the family.  His responsibility is to care for His mother after His father, Joseph’s death.  He could have passed this responsibility on to one of His younger brothers, but they were not at the cross.  Only His disciple, John, was at the cross.  So, Jesus filled with love and compassion for His mother, Mary, said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.”  To John, Jesus said, “Here is your mother.”  Even with Jesus being nailed to the cross, He is still concerned about His mother, Mary, and her life. 

            The second incident is at the cross.  Now, you would have thought that the chief priest and the Sanhedrin would have been satisfied they were able to accomplish getting Jesus crucified.  That was not enough for them.  They had to continue to mock and ridicule Jesus.  Matthew 27:41-43, records their mockery of Jesus.  Jesus responds to all this mockery in Luke 23:34. 

            The third incident of Jesus showing compassion from the cross is what Larry just read about the two thieves that were crucified with Christ.  Now, Luke records that one thief mocked Jesus, but the other did not.  Well, there is a difference of opinion here.  If you read Matthew 27:44 or Mark 15:32b, both of the thieves mocked Jesus.  They based their mockery on the sign that Pilate had nailed to the cross, telling the crime that Jesus was accused of committing, “King of the Jews,” Mark 15:26.

            Even though both of the thieves started out mocking Jesus, one of the thieves had a change of heart.  Luke records that change of heart in Luke 23:40-42.  Jesus responds to that change of heart in verse 43.  We do not know much about this man with the changed heart, only that he was a robber.  He joined in with the rest of the crowd and the other robber in mocking Jesus at the beginning.  He must have had a relationship with the other robber.  They might have been a team working together to gain ill-gotten possessions.  This robber might have been a follower and never a leader.  Never willing to take a stand in opposition.  Here he takes one of the most important life-giving stands that any person could make.  He goes against the flow of the will of the majority of the people, and he says to Jesus, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  Are we willing to forsake everything for Jesus?  Are we willing to give up all our other relationships to follow Christ?  Are we willing to take a stand and say, “I am a follower of Christ”? 

            Maybe you have never done anything so bold.  Maybe you have been a follower and never a leader all your life.  Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone this morning and say I am willing to follow Jesus, no matter what the rest of my family, my friends, my community, or the rest of the world says and does?  Think about that. 

            This robber would make that decision to follow Christ as he was being crucified, taking in his last breaths. This is known as a death-bed conversion.  I do believe in death-bed conversion.  I believe that while we have life in us, we can all make that decision to accept Jesus into our hearts.  It does not matter what you or I have done, Jesus will accept us if the confession is sincere and made with repentance.  That is exactly what this person did. 

            Of course, there is the old argument.  “So, you are telling me Pastor Dave that I can live however I want to and as long as before I take my last breath, I make a death-bed conversion that Jesus will accept me into heaven.”  I will tell you “Yes, but when are you going to know that you will be taking your last breath?”  Only God knows that.  Would you really want to live apart from God here on Earth for one to 100 years and then live with God for eternity?  That does not make any sense to me.  Does it to you?

            Also, this is the only time in the Bible of an example of a death-bed conversion.  Yes, they can happen, but these are exceedingly rare.  Death-bed conversion provides us with hope that God is a compassionate god.  He gives us every chance to choose to follow His Son, Jesus.  This is confirmed to us in 2 Peter 3:8-9.

            We have three examples of Jesus showing compassion from the cross.  God loves each one of us.  God is waiting patiently for us to accept the relationship that God offers us through His Son, Jesus.  God is a compassionate god, but there is a timeline when God’s compassion will run out and judgement day will be here.  I plead with you to accept God’s offer now.  Do not wait.  It will change your life now and forever.

            So, let us continue to listen to God and do what He says.  Amen.